How life has changed in Rochdale

Rochdale's population increased by about 6,300 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population passed 210,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Rochdale increased by 3.1%, from about 205,000 to 212,000.

The addition of just over 6,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Rochdale was home to, on average, 9.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Rochdale

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Rochdale increased by two years, from 36 to 38 years.

This area had a slightly lower average age than the North West and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 4,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 10.0% of people in Rochdale are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rochdale by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Rochdale residents that were unemployed increased from 3.9% to 5.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in two (49.6%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 51.1% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale residents that were self-employed increased from 7.0% to 7.9%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Rochdale increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Rochdale, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Rochdale

The percentage of Rochdale residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.6% to 4.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 16 (6.4%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.1% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.0%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Rochdale

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Rochdale, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 8.5 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 20.1% of respondents in Rochdale said they had no religion, up from 11.6% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 64.3% of respondents in Rochdale said they were Christian, down from 77.6% in 2001. About 14.8% said they were Muslim, up from 10.1% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Rochdale increased by 8.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Rochdale by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Rochdale that rented privately increased from 6.5% to 13.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in four (23.1%) households lived in social housing, compared with 24.8% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale households that owned their home decreased from 66.1% to 61.9%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Rochdale increased by 6.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rochdale, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Rochdale

The percentage of single people in Rochdale increased from 29.2% to 35.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (44.4%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 49.9% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Rochdale that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 12.3% to 13.1%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30.1% in 2001 to 35.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Rochdale

In 2011, 14.9% of Rochdale residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 10.0% in 2001. The 4.9 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 3.8% to 6.2%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 81.7% of people in Rochdale said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 88.6% in 2001. About 1.7% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.9% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.3% to 1.3%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Rochdale increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rochdale by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Rochdale residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 11.2% to 7.6% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77.7%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66.1% in 2001. The percentage of Rochdale residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.7% to 14.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Rochdale decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Rochdale, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Rochdale, which comprised a single parent, increased from 11.6% to 13.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31.2%) households had a married couple, compared with 36.0% in 2001. The percentage of households in Rochdale, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.2% to 10.6%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 12.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Rochdale with children decreased from 33.6% to 32.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57.6%) households had no children, compared with 56.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in Rochdale with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 10.2%.

The proportion of households with children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30.4% in 2001 to 28.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the North West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Rochdale working less than 16 hours increased from 1.5% to 2.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 10.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.7% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Rochdale increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Rochdale, the North West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Rochdale residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.3% to 1.7% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Rochdale remained close to 1.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Rochdale by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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